fuel treatment making a difference
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Fuel TreatmentMaking a Difference
Steve Harbert Tim Rich
Burn Boss RefresherFebruary 2009
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How can Fuel Treatments “Make a Difference”?
• Ecosystem Restoration
• Protection
Why here, why now?
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Why be Effective?Available FS and BLM land in PNW: 20.7 MM acres2008 Accomplishment / % of available: 130 M acres = 0.6 %In 15 years, % of available treated: 9% (6%/decade) Wildfire Acres/year
309 M Acres
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Principles of Stand Level Fuel Treatments
1. Surface fuels2. Ladder fuels3. Canopy fuels4. Leave large trees
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Treatment Strategies
Fuel Breaks
DFPZ Extensive vs. Intensive
SPOTS
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SPOTS
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An Assessment of Fuel Treatments on Selected Fires in the Pacific Northwest
A report to Fire Directors Ken Snell and Carl GossardUSDA Forest Service, Region 6; Oregon State BLMOctober 2007
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Three Fires, Three Strategies
Monument Fire – Umatilla NF GW Fire – Deschutes NF Egley Fire – Burns Fire Zone
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GW Fire Results
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July 6th to July 22nd
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Egley Complex Assessment
42% of assessment area had treatments High severity areas were statistically
different Post-fire photographic evidence supports
the fuels treatment effectiveness conclusion.
In some treatment areas weather overpowered the veg/fuels treatment.
Newer treatments were more effective.
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Egley Prescriptions
Underburning (3869 acres) Marginally significant
Commercial Harvest (17990 acres) Wide variety, and significant
Pre-commercial thin and piling (~16940 acres) Very significant Changed Rx intensity
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Egley - 220 spur
Treated area south of 220 spurUntreated area south of 220 spur
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Egley - BARC Severity
Egley Complex - BARC Severity
40%41%
27% 37%
23% 18%
3%9%0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
No Treatment 57,456 ac. Treated 41,070 ac.
NO DATA
UNBURNED / VERY LOW
LOW SEVERITY
MODERATE
HIGH SEVERITY
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Egley – Treatment Age
Egley Complex - Percent of high and moderate severity by age class of treatment
45.0%
30.7%
1.1%
2.9%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
Treatment Age >12 years old Treatment Age <11 years old
Moderate Severity High Severity
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Fuels Program Validation
When the fuels specialist asks… “Where will you have your next big fire, and where are you going to treat?”
Do you have an answer?Develop a strategy, articulate,
monitor.
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RecommendationsA fuels strategy
The Burn Boss should know the fuels and vegetation strategy;
Has a responsibility during burn plan preparation to help craft specific burn plan objectives:
Implements the burn plan to help achieve the overall strategy.
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RecommendationsSuppression Effectiveness
Enhancing suppression effectiveness should be part of the fuels/veg strategy. Treatment location
Use past treatment data in developing wildfire strategies. Treatments should become an integral part
of WFSA/WFDSS development. Treatment maps should be a part of the
briefing package given to Incident Management Teams.
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RecommendationsLeave some tracks
Map treatments Data in GIS is best Planned vs. implemented When Maintenance program Suppression There is a formal monitoring process Part of post burn activities
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Questions?
Treatment Effectiveness Report: http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/fireuse/success/success-stories.html
Angora Fire Report: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/angorafuelsassessment/
Remote Sensing Application Center (BARC, BAER & MTBS):
http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/rsac/baer/barc.html
Lessons Learned Center: http://www.wildfirelessons.net/Home.aspx
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